Weekender for Fri., Oct. 30, 2009

Pianist/singer/bon vivant Paul Slavens –– whose live jazz-tinged improvisational pop, which includes hilarious made-up-on-the-spot lyrics, can be heard every Tuesday night at Lola’s Saloon-Sixth (2736 W. 6th St., in the West 7th Street corridor, 817-877-0666) –– will be improvisationally scoring the silent 1923 Lon Chaney version of The Hunchback of Notre Dame tonight (Friday) at the Palace Arts Center (300 S. Main St., Grapevine). Slavens will be joined on stage by, among other notable North Texas musos, Mike Rudnicki of The Boom Boom Box and Daron Beck of The Great Tyrant. The potentially hilarious grotesquery gets going at 7:30 p.m. Tix can be purchased at the box office starting at 6:30 p.m. or ordered anytime by calling 817-410-3100.

Sidenote: Slavens will be moving up the start time of his Tuesday-night Lola’s gigs from 11:30 to about 8:30 p.m. For the show next Tuesday (November 3), the Rivercrest Yacht Club’s rhythm section of bassist Uncle Lee Allen and drummer Lucas White (who also plays in bluesman James “Gut-tar” Hinkle’s band) will back Slavens. Reportedly. We’ll see what happens.

To the aforementioned Great Tyrant, every day is kinda like Halloween –– the band is fucking spooky. Which isn’t saying that Halloween ’09 won’t be particularly pants-tightening for the trio of Beck, Jon Teague, and Tommy Atkins, who will perform tomorrow (Saturday) night at a Southside haunt that used to regularly host fantastic live indie-rock, then didn’t, but now is again (just for one night only, though). Joining Beck at al. at the Chat Room Pub (1263 W. Magnolia Ave., on the South Side, 817-922-8319) will be Lychgate, Baring Teeth, and Phantastes. I have no idea what the cover charge is, if there even is one. Not to sound like a dick, but call the club yourself and find out. Someone should be there to answer the phone by now. (No one was there earlier. I tried.)

To the aforementioned-parenthetically Rivercrest Yacht Club, every day is an occasion to play dress up –– the three rappers, to protect their real identities (because they’re such pillars of society), perform as costumed übermensches of sorts. Observe them scientifically for yourself tonight (Friday) at The Moon (2911 W. Berry St., by TCU, 817-926-9600), where they’ll be supported by Dallas-Fort Worth’s Odis and Dallas’ Dovetail. Hmm. Mm-yes. Mm-yes indeed. *replaces monocle back inside smoking jacket inner-pocket and puffs in an avuncular fashion on a briar pipe shaped to resemble a pirate’s head*

The aforementioned oso closo will be sharing a bill tonight (Friday) with an outfit called the Rocky Horror Tribute Band at Hailey’s (122 Mulberry St., Denton, 940-323-1160). A bona fide, flesh-and-blood North Texas band playing some of the greatest rock-musical fare known to Earthlings? Hot patootie! I’m there!

Reminder: The long-awaited opening of the Pour House sports bar in the West 7th Street corridor right by Carroll Corner is tomorrow (Saturday) night.

Lastly, if you’re anywhere near the near-West Side or West Berry Street, you’re probably going to want to walk around with your dukes up. This Saturday is not only Halloween. It’s also TCU homecoming.

Since 1994, Fort Worth Weekly has provided a vibrant alternative to North Texas’ often-timid mainstream media outlets by offering incisive, irreverent reportage that keeps readers well informed and the powers-that-be worried.